Share Your Expertise within the Healthcare Community
As hospitals everywhere expect and prepare for an influx of people seeking treatment for COVID-19, it’s safe to assume that:
- a high percentage of patients will be over age 65
- 30-50% of these patients will have hearing loss, and
- 80% are not wearing hearing aids.
Under normal circumstances, it is hard for healthcare providers to communicate effectively with patients who have impaired hearing. Now, COVID-19 makes it even harder as the voices and facial expressions of medical personnel are muffled and hidden by protective masks.
During this unprecedented time, as local healthcare systems are overwhelmed, focused and effective communication is critical. Your professional expertise is particularly valuable now since you know the special care and techniques that are required to effectively communicate with people with hearing loss.
As a healthcare professional, I encourage you to proactively reach out to your local community of doctors, emergency rooms, and urgent care facilities to offer guidance on best practices for communication. Share copies of the attached “Talking to Patients with Hearing Loss” flyer with them and encourage them to post it in their facility so staff have access to these quick tips and reminders. We have prepared two versions for your use, one that is a standardized flyer and another that enables you to add your information as a local resource.
Here are a few simple ways you might consider sharing this information:
- Drop off 3-4 printed copies at your local Emergency Room, urgent care, clinic, public health department, etc.
- Post it to your social media sites and tag your local hospital
- Send it via email long with a personal message to local doctors or other healthcare providers you have developed a professional relationship with.
- As you share the flyer, also share copies of the new research showing how masks degrade speech recognition. This helps provide additional context to why this flyer is so important during this crisis.
- Consider even adding a few small Starbucks gift cards with your business card attached to show your appreciation for these important frontline medical providers.
We are in this together. You are in this with your community. Your expertise will undoubtedly be appreciated and remembered.